FINCHforum

I'm considering getting another finch this afternoon, as I have an uneven number after removing my overly aggressive Whydah to another cage.

I'm calling around to see what all the local stores have, and am quite excited to find out that a local store of mine has Java Rice Finches for $44 a piece. I've never actually seen these for sale anywhere. I don't know much about them, and am doing some quick research on them, but figured I'd ask here too.

Is this an aggressive species that I'm going to end up having to separate from my others? I'm finding places that say they are a peaceful species and other places that say they can kill other finches. :/ IF I get one, it will likely be a single bird (not a pair) and will be going into a 6 ft planted flight cage with a male Zebra, a pair of Silverbills, a female Shaft-tail, female Whydah, male Spice Finch and a male Orange-Cheek.

Thoughts?

hi
i have bred hundreds of javas,and they are not nasty even in pairs,but when they are nesting they can get aggressive and i dont think your place is large enough for a pair as they like a bit of seclusoion if you get a pair so i would just stick to the one if you had a bigger place a pair would have been tolerated...they eat all the normal finch seed,but they do like paddy rice if you can get it

ken

They sometimes bicker amongst themselves (nothing serious though), but they're not usually aggressive towards other species. Some people mix them with the more aggressive finches because of the javas large size.

i agree with Kenny and Dan,they are a larger size finch but so mild mannered.i cant for see any problems if your only getting the 1,the only time im heard of them squabbling is when they're wanting to breed.
I hope you decide to get 1,they are a sweet bird

I have to agree with everyone else. I have a pair of Javas in my large mixed non-breeding aviary. When I first introduced them everyone was flying around freaked because of their size. Things settled down rather quickly & I have not had any problems. Even the tiny orange breast waxbills are not bothered.
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n58 ... /044-1.jpg

Wintersong wrote:I have to agree with everyone else. I have a pair of Javas in my large mixed non-breeding aviary. When I first introduced them everyone was flying around freaked because of their size. Things settled down rather quickly & I have not had any problems. Even the tiny orange breast waxbills are not bothered.
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n58 ... /044-1.jpg

Great photo! What a contrast!! I admire the Javas from afar. For my available space they are just too large. One day maybe...

Queen_Bee wrote:

Great photo! What a contrast!! I admire the Javas from afar. For my available space they are just too large. One day maybe...

Thanks! I love to get close-up pics whenever I can. My brother calls my Javas the "Dinosaur finches" because he thinks they are huge compared to everyone else lol.

I caught one of my javas preaning a pearl headed silverbills today...
I don't think you'd have a problem with one or possibly even a pair
in a mixed setting...my javas only bicker with each other over territory when breeding...even then it's nothing serious.
I have 3pair mixed with gouldians,stars,owls,goldbreasts,societies,zebras,pearl headed silverbils and shafttails with no issues.

hi
i found this the other day a nice fawn java for you to drool over,just getting ready for a show

ken

Thanks for everyone's imput.

I did get a Java yesterday. He/she is nice and young, it doesn't even have its full adult plumage in yet. The other birds were very intimidated at first and would freak out whenever he flew anywhere, but by the end of last night he was roosting in an open canary-style nest with my male Silverbill, so I guess they've decided he's not that scary.

I wasn't going to take a picture of him until he got in his full adult colors, but I may take one of him today anyway and post it later.

I know they are very difficult to sex visually, do you know when they start to sing? I haven't heard any singing from it yet, but didn't know if this was due to the fact that its still a baby or if its possibly a female. My Spice that I got last month started singing as soon as we got him home and I know he was fairly young too (but had achieved adult plumage).

flrancho wrote:Thanks for everyone's imput.

I did get a Java yesterday. He/she is nice and young, it doesn't even have its full adult plumage in yet. The other birds were very intimidated at first and would freak out whenever he flew anywhere, but by the end of last night he was roosting in an open canary-style nest with my male Silverbill, so I guess they've decided he's not that scary.

Glad to hear you got your Java! My birds did the same thing at first. They were in a panic to escape from the "big guys" till they quickly realized they weren't in any danger. I can't help with the sexing question but I am sure someone else might be able to. Congrats!

flrancho wrote:Thanks for everyone's imput.

I did get a Java yesterday. He/she is nice and young, it doesn't even have its full adult plumage in yet. The other birds were very intimidated at first and would freak out whenever he flew anywhere, but by the end of last night he was roosting in an open canary-style nest with my male Silverbill, so I guess they've decided he's not that scary.

I wasn't going to take a picture of him until he got in his full adult colors, but I may take one of him today anyway and post it later.

I know they are very difficult to sex visually, do you know when they start to sing? I haven't heard any singing from it yet, but didn't know if this was due to the fact that its still a baby or if its possibly a female. My Spice that I got last month started singing as soon as we got him home and I know he was fairly young too (but had achieved adult plumage).

If you have a male, he should have his full vocals by the time he reaches about one year old. Some even try to sing when they are just a few months.

hi
he will sing when he is ready,if he hasnt got his adult plumage he may not sing till then.it wont be a full proper song anyway you will hear a little rasping type squeeking and that will be him trying his vocals out....thats providing he is a he and not a she,if its female you will just get the chirping rattle like sound from it


ken

These are our new javas, we were surprised to hear first one then another, sing, and they are very young, skinny little heads, the one front left is fawn, there's a white behind him. They seem to like the morning water and clover or greens, then when they get relaxed and sleepy, it happens. I like how the javas close their eyes listening to people voices cooing at them.

The pitches and variety of tones and texture were awesome to listen to. From web descrips we were expecting all of a couple different notes. I have a video too if anybody wants, maybe that works like a pic upload.

I find that the size of javas intimidates other birds.
also, and I'm not sure on this, aren't they flock birds? like zebras??